Receptacle-capping machinery.



W; E. HEATH, RECEPTACLE CAPPING MACHINERY.

n C APPLICATION FILED FEB-5,1916. 4 i

v Patented July 1? 191.7.

9 $HEETS-SHEET I.

107 J T 1P3 1 10 a mum ll? V/ krm 9 SHEETS W. E. HEATH.

RECEPTACLE-CAPPING MACHINERY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5. 1916.

Patented July M s h 5 6 a M 4m 7 Z 7. a G 6 H 1 1 m e 0 H 8 1 MW 3 a 3 M m 0 K. il! U 1 T h & 4 W n a 2 a 9 M m l. 2 v o u I W fir W 1 [1 M101 1. 7f 5 o 5 F 7 m w @7nmou Hi R n 0 Z o o 4 3 a 1n 0 3 1 7 37. O 2 w MW w 6 m 4 5 1 1 1 I 9 5 3 B W-.E. HEATH.

RECEPTACLE CAPPING MACHINERY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5, 1916.

Pafented July 17, 1917.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W. E. HEATH.

RECEPTACLE' CA.PP1NG MACHINERY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5. 1916.

Patented July 17, 191?.

9 SHEETSSHEET 5- I WW Iwowfom W. E. HEATH.

RECEPTACLE CAPPING MACHINERY.

APPLICATION .mao FEB- 5. 19,16.

Patented July 17, 1917.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

w. E. HEATH. RECEPTACLE CAPPING MACHINERY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5l l 9lfi.

1917. 9 SHEETS-SHEET a.

Patented July 17 J51 Iwwwfogr W. E. HEATH. RECEPTACLE CAPPING'MACHINERY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-5.1916.

Patented July 17, 19m

9 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

Iwwwfw .ping hilachinery, of which they following oi rncn venetian n HEATH, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND; ASSIGNOR T HEATH SELF-dramas srorrnn comranr, OEIBALTIMORE, amznenn, a conronarron or nnnavraan;

eas es;

Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to ReceptacleCapis a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements 1n machines for capping bottles and other containers; and the objects and nature of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanation of the accompanying drawings illustrating What I noiv" --believe to be the preferred embodiment or mechanical expression of my invention from among other forms, arrangements and constructions Within the spirit and scope thereof It is an object of the invention to provide a machine wherein stiff metal sealing caps are locked on the bottle mouths by a ro- Q tating spinning or curling device With means 25 for automatically feeding capsto the bottles for spinning thereon'so arranged that the line of feed of the caps will be concentric Withthe "axis of rotation of the spinning device i A inrther object of the invention is to provide a machine for spinning caps on bottles, whereinthe caps are automatically fed to the bottles through and longitudinally of the head of the'rnachine.

A turther object' of the invention'is to' provide a i'nachine for locking stifi metal caps on bottles by a spinning device centered "and rotating; on 'the' head of themachine,

with means; for feeding the'caps longitudinally through said head and successively presenting the same at the spinning position and to receive a bottle mouth when said bottle-ismoved to bring its mouth to cap-retitll ceiving position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine for locking stifl" metal sealing caps to bottle months by spinning the'depending vertical flanges .ot the caps under maticaily applied to the bottle'mouths and are'then spun'there'on by a spinning device rotating on said head asfan axis.

A further object of the invention to Specification of Letters Patent.

external shoulders on the bottle; moirths wherein the caps are-automatically ted throughthe'niachmehead and are auto- .RECIEPTAGLE-CAPPING MACHINERY.

provide automatic mechanism for feeding v Patented July 1W, llhl'lh Application filed I ebruary 5,1916. Serial No. 76,398.

metal sealing caps throughthehead of a capping,machine, from acarton in which said caps'are packed in a plurality of paral lel tubes, and'for-feedingsaidcarton for- Ward as the supply of caps in a tube is excarton and insert a full carton.

A. fu rther object the invention is to provlde a machine for locking'stifi .metal fhausted, until the caps have'been discharged sealingfcaps' on bottle-mouths, wherein the caps are automatically fed, down through the head of the machine and are turned over one at a time and presented in proper position to receive a bottle mouth and withprovide a machine for locking met-a1 sealing caps on bottle mouths,'with improved means for automatically centering each bottle mouth preparatory to its arrival at the sealing-cap-receiving and locking position.

A further object of the invention is to stand the sealing pressure on the bottle mouth during the operation of locking the cap onsaid mouth.

A furtherfobject of the invention is to provide a simple, efiicient and accurate automatic cap feed for bottle capping ma- -chinery.

A further object of the invention is .to provide improvements in combinations, ar-- rangements, and thecon'struction of parts, with the end in'viewof producing a highly advantageous and efficient machine for applying metal sealing caps to bottles and other containers.

' With the foregoing and other objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features in construction, arrangement, and

in s:- iigur'e 1 is a front elevation of a ma chine embodying my invention, the operat lng parts thereof beingshown in their normal positions.

- Fig. 2, is a side elevation showing the left a i hand side of the machine, Fig. l, a bottle being shown on the table, the operating parts being in the same position as in Fig.1.

Fig. 3",is anelevation showing the opfposite side of the machine.

Fig. 4, is a side elevation, portions or the "Fig.5,isa

centering device, in

nal section. v

side elevation'of a portion of the upper part of the machine, the head and the spinning in the feed table, and carton shown in vertical section, shown in said holder and away tqtshow several tubes thereof loaded with caps. 1 Y Figs. 6 and 7 are detail top plan views of the bottle centering device 'showin holder being a carton being diameters v Fig. 8, is a detail top planof the bottle receiving position, the V-bottle' stop below i said device, the bottle table or platform, and

jthe bottle guide plate leading to said table or platform.- v

' 9, is a detail side elevation of the bottle table. or platform, the if stop, the centering a portionof the machine frameor column,

' and a bottle on the table.

Fig. 10, is a cross section taken in the plane of'theline 10-40, Fig. 2.

19.42, Fig. 11.

. s Fig. upper tion of the cartonholder and the means for A barsv thereon, and

L 19 19, Fig. 5.

5 .tical section.

v 13,-l3, Fig. 12.

I carton,

Fig.,11, is a detail vertical section on the line 11-11, Fig. 1.

Fig-12, is a detail section on the line i Fig. 13,- is a detail section on the line Fig. 14, is a detail end elevation of the gear member of the main clutch.

partof the machine showing a porfeeding the same.

, Fig. 16, isa detail front elevation of upper'endof the machine frame, the

table, and portions of the carton feedingmeans;

Fig. 17 is a detail'vertical section through a' portion-of the machine,

and connecting said bars.

Fig. 18,- is a detail cross section on the line 18- 18, Fig. 5.

, Fig.19, is a cross detail perspective of an empty dotted lines indicating a detachablestrip that can be passed across the open ends of the tubes to retain the caps therein, and that can be secured at its ends to the edges of the carton.

Fig. 21, is a Fig. '20, is a detail vertical section on the line 21-21, Fig. 22.

Fig. 22, is a detail eievation of the lower portion of the machine head, the spinning device not being shown except for a fragment of the pulley thereof appearing in verdevice of the machine be-. shownlin central longitudinal sectlon,

partially broken the 7 completely open bottle Fig. 26, is a device and its operating means,

15, is adetail side elevation of thefeed. holder and a pair of-shde an operating collar for section on the line Fig. 23, is a detail elevation of the lower portion'of'the head, with the spinning or pulley carrying bearing sleeve removed, and alsowith the grooved head and shank of one of the cap clamps or jaws ofthe cap turn-over chuck removed.

' Fig. 24, is a vertical section on the line head 24.-24, Fig. 21, a spinning or curling roll being shown.

Fig. 25, is a side elevation of the mouth of a bottle shown in approximately the position it will. assume with respect to-Fig. 24, when the bottle is on its table and before been elevated to cap-receiving osition, and when the turn-over chuck is 1n the position disclosed by Fig.-2;l.-

detail sectional View of the parts illustrated by and in the same plane v as the'section Fig. 24, but showing the turnover chuck in turned-over cap-applying posi- "tion, a bottle mouth in cap receiving position, and a spinning curling roll in its initial spinning or curlin the straight depen ing flange of the cap on the bottle and not yet turned under the shoulder thereof.

Fig. 27, is a detail elevation of a portion of the machine head, certain parts being omitted. v

Fig. 28, is a detail edge view of a portion of the turn-over chuck, a portion of one of the chuck journals being shown in longitudinal section.

Fig. 29, is a detail plan'view of the bottom end-face of the machine head in in- .verted position, the turn-over chuck holding a cap and being in its positionshown by hin es, j

Fig. 30, is a vertical longitudinal section through the modified construction of Fig. '31, being taken in the plane of the line -30, Fig. 31. i Fig. 31, is a side elevation of the head portion-of a capping machine embodying 1 certain modified constructions.-

Fig. 32, is, a cross section on the line ee ae, Fig. 34. r

t Fig. 33, is a cross section on the line ea-ea, Fig. 35. I

Fig. 34-. is a vertical section on the line 34-342, Fi 35.. a Fig. 35, is a vertical section similar to Fig. 34, but taken in a plane at right angles to the plane of the section Fig. 34. Fig. 36, is a vertical section taken in the plane of the section Fig. 34, but showing the arts in different positions.

Fig. 37, is a vertical section taken in the same plane as Fig. 35, but showing the parts in the same positions as in Fig. 36, and in different positions from those assumed thereby in Fig. 35.

Figs. 38 and 39, showing one chuck and its stripper in are detail sectional views half or the modified turn-over different positions.

position with respect to Fig. 40, is a'section showing the parts of Figs. 38 and 39, in the same position as Fig.

' 38, so far as the relative positions of the i ll) line 42-42, Fig. 39.

stripper and clutch member are concerned,

Fig. 4a, is a diagrammatical or detail plan view of the'swinging fingers of the modificatioh,-which holds the cap (shown in dotted lines) in bottle receiving position, the rock shafts carrying the same, and the slides for rocking said shafts,

,. Fig. 4a, is a detail or diagrammatical side elevation of the elements of Fig. 4:3, dotted lines showing a cap in edge view upheld by said fingers.

Figs. 45 and t6, are a detail longitudinal section and an inverted plan of portions of the cap receiving sliding plates that receive" the caps from the turn-over chuck a'nd that drop the same onto said swingin fingers.

Fig. 47, is a side elevation of a bottle neck showing a cap locked thereon by having itsdepending flange spunv under the exterior bottle mouth shoulder.

Tn the capping machine of my invention, the bottle to be capped is placed on a table or platform and against a positioning device and in a centering device. The main clutch of the machine is then thrown into action,

a usually by depressing a treadle, to operatively connect. the table actuating means with the power. The tablethereupon moves up on its operative stroke carrying the uncapped bottle and'on the completion of said stroke moves down-0n its return stroke to normal position carrying the capped bottle and then comes to rest, as the clutch then automatica-lly disconnects the table actuating means from the power. The clutch-when thrown into action causes the operating strokes of the various moving parts of the machine necessary to supply a capatthe cap-applying and locking position and for capping one bottle, and is then automati cally thrown outof action. When the bottle is started on its upward movement, thecentering device is automatically brought into action to accurately center and aline the mouth of the bottle with respect to the cap heldin position to receive the same. mouth of the bottle moves up into a cap held in position waiting for the bottle and applies the desired upward sealing pressure against the cap during'the completion of the upward stroke of the table, and while rotating curling or spinning rolls close in against the depending edge of the cap flange and turn the same in under the exterior shoulder of the bottle and The thereby lock the cap thereon. 1 When the lower edge of the cap flange has thus been spunor curled inwardly to locking position, said rolls are withdrawn and the bottle table drops, The supply ofcaps is maintained in a scries of parallel vertical tubes in a carton carried by a holder arranged above the head of the machine.

The caps drop one at a time from a carton,"

tube into a vertical ca tube. extending longltudinally' through t e head of th machine. At each stroke of the machine, a cap from said cap tube is turned over and held 1n bottle-'mouthreceiving' position with its flange depending, so that ,on each upward operative stroke of the bottle table, a cap will be held in. proper position to receive isaid bottle, and the cap spinning devices will be closed in to quence.

The caps are fed down by gravity from the carton and through thesmachine head,

the [cap in proper seto register .a filled-tube of .caps with the downward passage through the head as the is moved back to its starting-position and a filled carton is inserted.

The machines illustrated are provided with suitable supportingmeans. For instance, T'show a strong vertical column 1, rising from abase 2. Thelower portion of the column is formed or provided with a forwardly projecting rigid lateral enlargementor knee 3, at its outer end formed withavertical slideway, guide passage or bore 4, extending completely therethrough and slidably receiving andv guiding the ver ticalfshank or standard 5, of the bottle table or platform 6. This table is arranged above the knee and is mounted on the upper end of the standard 5, and at its top side is preferabl formed with a socket or depression in w ich islocated the horizontal ruband the carton is automatically fed'forward I V ber mat or other suitable cushioning disk 7, on which the bottle on the table ried. The table 6, isalso videdwith a forwardly projecting and downwardly inclined bottle guide plate or floor 8, designed to engage the bottom of the bottle and guide the bottle upwardly and rearwardly to the cushion 7, during-the operation of lacing the bottle by hand on the table. T is front inclined guide plate is of advantagein overcoming the tendency of operators to hold the bottles at too great elevations when placing the same on the cushion 7, and thereby strike the bottle necks or mouths against parts of the machine above the table.

The lower end 9, of the standard that depends from the knee 3, is preferably lonpreferably prothe low portions thereof vertically swinging the gitudinally' screw'threaded to receive the longitudinally elongated hand wheel nut 10, longitudinally. adjustable thereon and provided with exterior annular to receive the forked end of the lever '12, by which the table is raised and lowered.

The lever 12, extends from thecolumn to which its rear end is fulcrumed on a transverse axis, forwardly and is forked to enter the groove 11, of the nut '10, so that the table will be raised and lowered by lever. The lever is swung by an upright link or rod 13, at its lower end pivotally joined tosaid lever and at its upper endpivot-ally joined to the free end of a vertically swingable lever 14:. The lever 14,'is provided with a roller 15, engaging a rotary cam 16, fixed on cam shaft 17. The -lever'14:, is yieldingly held at its limit of downward movement with its. roller 15, bearing periphery of the cam which cam upholds the levers 14,12, and the table. The weight of the table and connected parts is sufficient to hold the roller to the cam in following tions of the cam areproperly located to cause elevation of the table in proper sequence and the distance required to carry the bottle thereon to the cap-receiving. and the same for the length of time necessary v for the completion of the cap spinning operation.

. By means ofthe rotary nut 10,- the nonrotary longitudinally slidable standard 5,

I. of the table can be adjusted vertically with table and .the

LS5 bracket 19'. The jaw respect to the nut to raise or lower the normal elevation of the table with respect.

to the elevation of the cap-holdingand spinning devices to-accommodate long and shortbottles, w1thin certain limits, and to insure the desired sealing pressure and accuracy in operation.

The table standard 5, carries an upright frame or. bracket"1 9, extending upwardly toward the head r of 'the'maclnne and arranged between the bottle positioned on the column 1. The lower end of this bracket is provided with a forwardly projecting split clamp 18, rigidly clamped I on the standard just below the table. Just above and inrear of the table, carriesa back stop, gage or positioning deof the bottle.

the bracket vice against which the body is forced when the bottle. is placed onthe table. wardly projecting \I-shaped jaw or stop 20,

to properly position'the body of the bottle on the table.

In the example illustrated, the V-shaped I jaw 20, is prov1ded with a rearwardly extending shank 21, adjustable longitudinallyin a horizontal socket 22, formed in the is clamped in the degroove 11,

down on the top surface of the while the elevathe bracket 19, and

This device is 'inthe form of a for-* device for grasping the cap-applying and spinning operations and particularly to properly alinc, center and position the mouth of the bottle with respect to the cap-holding and spinning devices. This centering and holding device consists of a fixed V-jaw and a pair of swinging grasping fingers arranged to close partially around the bottle neck and press the same back into and against the V-jaw, and to thus hold the same until the bottle table has approximately completed its return stroke and returned to normal lowered position whereupon the fingers are automatically swung in opposite directions to opened position to permit release of the bottle, in which opened position the fingers remain to permit positioning of anot ier bottle on the table. The fingers are then automatically swung to bottle grasping position as the table moves on its upward stroke so as to firmly grasp and center the bottle neck before the bottle mouth reaches cap receiving position.

As will appear from Figs. (3 to 9, the jaw is formed by the V-shaped formation 24-, of the projecting front end of a horizontal plate 25, fixedly secured on the top end of formed with a longitudinal guideway in which confined to reciprocate. The front end of the slide'is formed with a V-notch of the same angle as the V jaw 2-l, and also with a pair of diverging ears 27, to which oppositely extending horizontally-swingable links 28 are pivotally joined. The outer ends of these links are pivoted to the heels 29, of

' the curved horizontally swingable grasping fingers 30, pivoted or fulcrumed at 31, to the front outer corners of the V jaw 24. The fingers are opened and closed through the medium of slide 26, by an upright verpoint 34, intermediate the length of the lever and having its upper end pivotally joined to the projecting rear end of the slide 26, and having its lower end projected rearwardlyand carrying a roll 33. A suitable spring device is provided to constantly and yieldingly tend to maintain the grasping fingers in bottle neck gripping positions and at their limits of movement toward each "other. In the particular example illustrated,

the slide 26, is

tically swingable lever 32,'arranged in rear of the bracket and fulcrumed thereto at a the lever rearwardly and consequently the lid slide 26, forwardly, and the fingers at their limits of movement toward each other, approximately as shown in Fig. 7.

Suitable means are provided to act against this spring device to open the grasping fingers and to control the position thereof. For instance, I show an upright cam track or wedge 36, fixed on the column 1, for this purpose, and engaged by the roll 33, of the lever '32. It will be noted that the track 36 is in a fixed position, while the bracket 19, and the centering device move vertically with the bottle ta le, and hence the high portion of the track is arranged at the lower end thereof and is engaged by the roll 33, when the bottle table is in its normal depressedposition, to depress the spring and hold the lever 32, in position with the slide 26 at its limit of rearward movement and the grasping fingers held in opened pomoves up on its operative stroke, the roll in following the track will permit the spring to expand and exert its power in closing the fingers around and against the bottle, as hereinbefore described. The track 'determines the extreme opening and closing limits of the fingers, and the spring, provides a yielding power by which the fingers are caused to grasp and hold the bottle to avoid damage thereto and to permit the fingers to grasp and hold bottle necks of different shapes and diameters within the extreme limits of movement of the fingers. When the fingers are grasping a comparatively lar e bottle neck,- as in Fig. 6, the spring will be thereby held compressed to such an extent that the roll 33, will be held forward "rom engagement with the low portion of.

' track 36, but when the fingers are grasping tlt a smaller bottle neck as in Fig. 7, the spring will be permitted to expand to a greater extent and the roll 33, will hence engage the track for a "reater portion of its length. The bottle neck limits the expansion of the spring and hence bottle necks of various sizes can be accommodated, grasped, and brought into proper alinement with the center longitudinal axis of the machine head.

In the particular example illustrated, the head of the machine comprises a vertical i elongated fixed tubular shaft or member 37,

spaced from and parallel with the upper portion of the column 1, and arranged above and having its longitudinal axis alined with the central vertical axis of the bottle table. This head 37 is supported by a bracket 38, embracing and adjustably clamped on the upper end of the column and formed with a pair of laterallyprojecting arms 39, having alined vertical bores receiving the head. The head is locked in the upper arm by a nut 40, adjustable vertically on the projecting threaded upper end of the head, into engagement with the upper side of the arm to with an annular external enlargement 42,

to uphold the rotary head or pulley of the spinning device that is mounted to rotate on and is carried by the sleeve 41. The elongated vertical hub 43, of this pulley is centered and rotates on-the sleeve and is upheld by a suitable bearing, such as a ball bearing 44, between the lower end of the pulley hub and the enlargement 42, of the sleeve (see Fig. 5). The construction and operation of this spinning device will be hereinafter described.

A. cap tube 45 is'arranged centrally within and extends approximately throughout the length of the head 37, and is supported by any suitable means in a fixed posit-ion within said head. The upper end ofthe head is closed except for a cap receiving opening 46, registering with the otherwise open upper end of the tube for the passage of properly positioned caps into the tube.

The caps (6) are usually of stiff sheet metal with a cylindrical depending flange and an internal disk of compressible sealing material. The opening 46, and the cap tube are formed to receive and permit passage of caps when arranged on edge or in a vertical edgewise position and the tube is formed to maintain thecaps in such position. The caps are similarly arranged in the tube in a column, one resting on the other with their edges abutting, and with their fiangesall projecting in the same direction. The caps feed down through the tube by gravity as the caps are ren'ioved one at a time from the lower end of the tube.

With particular reference to the illustrations appearing on Sheets 3 and 6, of the drawings, it will be noted that the lower end of the cap tube terminates within the bore of the head a distance above the lower open end of the head, and that means are provided within the head to receive the bot tom cap from the tube and to finally present the same in a horizontal position with its fIn the particular examples illustrated by said sheets of the drawings, a cap turntle mouth thereon in compressing the seal bore of the head 37,-just below-thelower, open end of the cap tube, and at its ends provided with alined trunnions 49, integral over and holding chuck is-provided to perform the just mentioned functions, as wellj as to form a backing or platen for the cap to withstand the upward pressure of the boting disk in the cap While the cap is being spun on the bottle. This particular rocking chuck comprises a strong metal block or body 48, extendingdiametrically across the therewith and mounted in alined bearing sockets in the lower end of the. head which are-closed at their otherwise open sides by plates 50, removably secured to the bottom end face of the head (see Figs. 21 and 29).

One side'of this block4l8 is formed with a transversely arranged flat cap seat or socket 51, at one end (its lower end) closed by a v from'its normal position. 4 I The block 48, is rockable, through an 'arcof something in excess of ninety degrees but.

shoulder 52, arranged along one longitudinal edge of the'block and at the other end (the upper end) open o'r unobstructed so that when the block is in a certain position, the bottom cap in the tube can slide onto the block through said open end and will be held on the block and resting in said seat by the engagement of the lower edge of the cap with the shoulder 52 (see Fig. 24).

The block 48, is radially enlarged and its back 53, is convexed or transversely curved concentrically with the axis on which the block rocks, to close the otherwise 7 open lower end of the cap tube and to uphold the caps therein when the block has rocked less than one hundred and eighty degrees,

to and from its normal position with the,

flat seat 51, in an upwardly inclined position atthe upper side of the block and be low the cap-tube (Fig. 24), and its cap-de- 'livering and backing position (Fig. 26)

wherein the seat is at the under side of the. block and is in a horizontal position.

When the block is in normal position (Figs. 21, '24) the bottom cap of the col-- umn of caps upholds the'caps inthe tube and is itself upheld by the shoulder 52, of

'- the block, and thiscap assumes a downwardly and laterally inclined position with its closed end resting down against the seat 51, and its upper edge just clear of the lower edge of the cap tube.

' .Thebottom cap when slippmg from the lower end of the tube onto the seat of the block is guided and confined to proper posit on on the seat, by a laterally yielding spring finger 54, depending from the exterior of the cap tube to which it is secured,

with its free end arranged within the bore of the head and opposite and spaced from the cap seat when the block is in normal posltion. I

.A pair of cap gripping jaws 55', ar-

ranged in and longitudinally movable of theblock. The jaws are arranged at opposite ends of the seat 51, and the shoulder 52, so

that the cap received from the cap' tube drops onto the seat between and is guided and centered bythese jaws, which are simultaneously movable in opposite directions, 2'. 6., away from each other to permit free pas sage of the cap onto the seat'and between the jaws, and then are moved towardeach other to engage the flange of the cap andhold thecap to the seat while-the block is turning .over and presenting the cap in position to receive the bottle mouth.

The jaws 55,'are rigid with shanks or slide rods56, longitudinally movable in grooves in the trunnions 49, and beyond the ends of the trunnions said shanks 56, are provided with annularly grooved -heads 57, to receive a the means-by which the jaws are actuated (see Sheet 6). In the example illustrated, the jaws 55, are actuated in their cap gripping movements by distended coiled retactile springs 58, through the medium of elbow levers 59, having depending forked ends loosely fitting in :the grooves of heads 57. These levers are arranged diametrically op posite each other at the exterior of the head to which they are pivoted on transverse fulcrums from which the upper arms of the levers extend inwardly with respect to the headwith their inner extremities enter-in D longitudinal grooves in diametrically opposite portions of the head and bearing upwardly'against the lower ends of slide rods 60, longitudinally movable in said grooves. The positions of the jaws 55, are controlled by those, slide rods (30, for when the slide rods are depressed the levers 59, are rocked against the tension of springs 58, to withdraw the jaws from clamping position, and when the slide bars are elevated, the springs 58swing the levers to press the jaws inwardly to grasp the cap with a yielding spring pressure.

.rThe turn-over chuck (comprising the ,block and the spring actuated jaws) 1S rocked to and from cap-receiving and cap- Lesaaee exterior of the machine head'be'tween the formed to permit elevate slide bars arranged and. slidable vertically on the frame arms 39. This collar is, provided with radiating trunnions 65, by which the slotted ends of the arms of a forked lever 66, are pivotally coupled to the collar to raise and lower and control the vertical movement of the collar. This lever 66, is vertically swingable on a fulcrum '67, by which the lever ispivotally mounted on the main frame bracket 38. Thislever is actuated by a push and pull link 68, at its upper end pivota-lly joined to the normally elevated rear free end of thelever 66, and at its lower end pivotally joined to thefree rear end of a horizontally disposed vertically swingable lever 69, at its front end ful crumed at 70, to theknee- 3, andinterme-v diate its length-provided with a roller 71, bearing down on the top edge of a cam 72, fixed on the rotary camshaft17. The cam edge determines the vertical position of the lever .69, through the 71, and the lever 69, yieldingly held to their limits of downward movement (determined by cam 72) by a distended retractive coiled spring 73, attached to the free end of lever 69., and to the machine frame or base.

The cam 72,- is formed so that its high portion will normally hold the lever 69, and the rear end of lever 66, elevated and the slide bars60, in their normal depressed position, while the low portion of the cam' is the spring-73, to depress rear end, of lever 66, to 60, at the proper time to grip the cap in the chuck sequence with respect to the operation of other, parts of the apparatus.

The slide bars 61,

lever 69, and the cause jaws 55, to in the necessary 'are normally 'at their limits of upward movement, to hold the chuck in its normal position (Figs. 21 to 2 1) and these bars 61, are connected together and are controlled and actuated by a collar 74, slidable on the upper part ofthe head 37, and provided with trunnions and secured to the bars 61, approximately as shown by- Fig. 17, with reference to bars 60, and their collar 64. v

The collar 74, is normally at its limit of upward movement and is moved vertically by a vertically rockable lever 75 fulcrumed to bracket 38, and having its normally elevated front forked end pivotally coupled to said collar '74. The normally depressed rear end of lever 75, is pivotally joined to the upper end of push and pull rod or link 76, the lower end of which is pivotally joined to the rear free end of a horizontally disposed vertically swingable lever 77. fulcrunied at its front end to knee This lever 77, is provided with a roller 78, bearing other suitable medium of the roller and its roller 71', aredown on the top edge of cam 79, fixed to rotary cam shaft 17 The lever is held down with its roller against thecam to follow the same by aspring 80.

i r maintain the'saine in such positions While the roller 78, is engaging the low portion of;

parts of the apparatus. a In the example illustrated, the spinning the cam, 79, while the high portion of the i cam 79, serves to depress the i to rock the 3 mechanism comprises'a' horizontally rotat- 7 ing pulley 81, and supported said head is centered. This concentric with the head 37 pulley 81 (or vertically elongated hub 43, from the lower end of which the body or web of the pulley extends horizontally and radially to join the pulley rim to thehub. The pulley rim isshown in the form of a vertical annular flange rising from the weband at ,its lower end provided with an outwardly projecting continuous belt supporting. flange, all as clearly illustrated particularly by Figs. 5, 18, 19, and 30. d a

he spinning head can be constantly -rotated in one direction at the desired speed by any suitable means, although in the drawings, I show the same driven by an endless friction belt 82, engaging the front side of the pulley rim of the head, and having its opposite plies extending horizontally and rearwardly at opposite sides of the column 1, to a couple of vertically-rotating idler pulleys 83, carried by and arranged in rear of the column from which the belt depends to a belt driving pulley on the horizontal main drive shaft 84, of the machine extendin rearwardly from the column and suitably supported by the machine base and provided with any suitable driving connection, such as driven pulleys and a driving belt from any suitable source of power.

The web of the rotary spinning head 81, carries suitable spinning or curling tools or other-elements adapted to engage and spin or turn the depending flange of the cap a, located on the .mouth of the bottle 6, inwardly (see (Z, Fig. 47) under the exterior shoulder o, of the bottle mouth, to lock the cap tightly on the bottle mouth, while the bottle and cap are held under pressure between the bottle table and the cap turn-over chuck.

As an example of means that I this purpose, I show several uniformly spaced parallel vertical rock shafts or spindles 85, parallel with and spaced equal employ for by the sleeve 41, in which rotary head) consists of the r ends of the spindles 85.

distances radially with lateral arms 88, having beve of the head 37, and mounted torock in and extending above and below the web of the pulley 81, and at their lower ends provided with laterally extending arms 86, at their free ends carrying rotar spinning or curling tools or rolls 87 (l ig. 19) While the upper ends of said spindles 85, are rovided ed ends 89, yieldingly pressed inwardly against a cone 90, by expansion springs 91 (Fig. 18). The spindles 85, are mounted in suitable bearings extending through the web of pulley 81, and arranged between the hub and rim thereoi so that the arms 88, extending radially from the upper ends of the spindles are located within said rim, and the springs 91, are pompressed between the rim and the free ends of said-arms.

The arms 86, are preferably provided with clamping hubs by which they are rigidly yet adjustably clamped to the lower The arms extend radially and inwardly from the spindles and their free ends are preferably curved laterally and the curling rolls 8?, are mounted to rotatev on vertical axes rising from the free inner ends of said arms. ends of the arms are so arranged that the rolls revolve in a common horizontal plane andin a circular path arranged concentrically within the circular path in which spindles 85, revolve, and the diameter of the circle of travel in which said rolls revolve-is increased and diminished by swinging arms 88, and rocking spindles 85. Thus when the arms 88, move inwardly under the power of their springs 91, the arms 86,

tion and -the bottle mouth to the bottom swing outwardly and increase the diameter of the circle in which the spinning rolls travel, while when the cone forces the arms 88, outwardly the arms 86, swing inwardly and the spinning rolls approach each other and reduce the diameter of the circle in which they travel. g

The upper ends of the spinning rolls are arranged immediately under and quite close face of the head37, and the circle in which said rolls travel is normally of a slightly greater diameter than that of the caps a. I v

The cap-engaging-edges of the rolls travel in the horizontal plane of the lower edge portion of the depending flanges of cap a, when said caps are held in the turned over or inverted cap chuck and on the bottle mouth, as shown by Fig. 26.

1 The spinning rolls thus travel in their normal circle of enlarged diameter with respect to the cap diameter, until the cap holding chuck has assumedreversed posihas been inserted in the cap thus held and is compressing the seal in the cap. While the cap and bottle mouth are in this position and condition,

from the longitudinal as The free the cone 90, descends and the arms 86, swing toward each other to bring the spinning rolls into curling or spinning engagement with the depending flange. The rapidly rotating rolls quickly turn the lower edge of the cap flange inwardly to the desired extent and then withdraw outwardly. The movement in this respect being very slight and exceedingly rapid, almost momentary.

In the example illustrated, the cone 90, is mounted in vertical sliding adjustment on the exterior of the upper portion of the hub 43,- of the rotary spinning device head or pulley, and is formed with an annular grooveloosely receiving the forked end of a vertically swingable lever 92, by which the cone is raised and lowered.

The lever 92 is vertically rockable on a fulcrum 93, carried by the frame bracket 38, and said lever is swung in proper sequence with other moving parts of the machine, by a link or rod 9%, at its upper end pivotally joined to the rear end of lever 9'2, and at its lower end pivotally joined to the rear end of a vertically swingable lever 95, having a roller 96, held down on the top edge of a cam 97, fast on the cam shaft 17.

The cone 90, is normally at its limit of upward movement and hence the roll 96 of lever 95, is normally engaging the low portion of rotary cam 97, and it is only when the comparatively short high portion of said cam engages and lifts roll 96, that the cone is depressed and the curling or spinning rolls are brought into operative engagementwith a cap.

-The lower end of the machine head and the portions of the spinning or curling mechanism located below the pulley 81 are inclosed within a box, guard or housing 99, fixed to and extending forwardly from the column 1, and this housing is closed at the bottom, above the bottle table, excep for a restricted vertical opening or hole 100, alined with the longitudinal axis of the machine head, for the upward passage of the bottle mouth to the cap receiving position and for the downward passage of the capped bottle mouth from said position.

Any suitable means can be provided for maintaining a supply of caps in the head of the machine or in the tube extending through said head, although certain features through slots 46 into the cap tube, and to bring a fresh row of caps over slot 16, as the asagna with an upwardly flaring vertical slot 104,.

opening through said plate and into the open lower end of said box or holder.

The holder is adapted to receive a carton 105, either through its side on the removal of wall 102, or through its top. The carton shown is composed of a plurality of parallel closely-arranged similarpaper material tubes pasted or otherwise ermanently secured together at their longitudinalsides.

Each paper tube is of a cross sectional formation conforming approximately to the cap tube 45, to receive and maintain a row of edgewise arranged caps resting one on the other the same as the caps in tube 45.

For instance, in the particular example illustrated, each tube of the paper carton contains a column of twelve caps and the carton is composed or made up of eighteen of such connected tubes. These paper tubes are uniform in length, open at the ends and arranged side by side, and can be formed by partitions in a paper or other material box or by pasting together previously formed individual tubes. The cartons can be filled with caps at'the place where the caps are manufactured, and can be kept in stock for use as needed in capping machines. The caps can be packed in the cartons for shipment when necessary, and if so desired, the ends of the cartons can be temporarily closed to retain the caps in the tubes bv' suitable removable strips as indicated by dotted lines Fig. 20.

ln preparing the capping machine for use, the tube 45, is filled with caps through the entrance slot 104, 46, the caps being all arranged with their closed ends toward the front and their flanges extending rearwardly, and the same arrangement of caps is necessarily followed in filling the tubes of the carton, so that one end of the carton is the front end and should be so designated or indicated and said front end should be arranged over the slot 104, when the loaded carton is inserted in the holder 101. The holder is pushed back to the rear end of plate or slideway 103, and the carton fitted therein with the columns of caps therein resting on and upheld by the plate 103. and with the front column alined with the slot 104 through which the caps thereof can drop in initially filling tube 45, or said tube can be filled by hand before the loaded carton is placed in the holder. When the tube 15, is being filled, the first .cap drops therethrough and into the turnover chuck occupying the cap seat thereof, see Fig. 5. The

remaining caps filling the ,tube 45, as well as the column of caps in the tube of the, carton alined therewith, are upheld by said cap in the chuck, and by the convexed back- 53, of the chuck when the chuck turns over to present its cap in bottle receiving posi tion. After thecap has been applied to the bottle and the empty chuck returns to normal upright position, another cap from tube 45, drops thereinto and thereupon the alined caps in the tube and carton drop down a distance equal to the diameter of a cap. When the tube of the carton is emptied suitable means more the carton forward the width of a cap to bring the-next column of tubes therein in alinement with slot 104. The carton is thus moved forward step by step until all of the caps have been fed therefrom,

the holder is then pushed back to its starting point, the empty carton is removed, and a loaded carton is inserted and the holder again starts on its forward feeding move ment. Suitable means are provided to thus automatically feed the carton holder forward and such means embody counting mechanism to properlytime the forward feeding movements of the carton holder. As an example of means that can be utilized for feeding the carton holder on its forward strokes, I show a rack 106, rigid with and arranged longitudinally of the carton holder and in mesh with a pinion 107, fixed on a short rotary shaft mounted in a bracket fixed to plate 103, and at itsouter end having a star wheel 108, fixed thereto.

The wheel 108 is periodically actuated a partial revolution by the radial finger 109, fixed to and projecting from a ratchet wheel 110, loosely mounted on a bracket 111, fixed to and projecting laterally from the upper arm 39 of the frame bracket 38. The ratchet wheel 110 is actuated a notch or toot-h ata time by pawl 112, pivotally mounted on rocker 118, loosely mounted on bracket 111,

concentric with the ratchet wheel and pivotally connected with collar 74, through the j medium of link 114. The collar 74, controls the cap holding jaws of the/ cap turn-over chuck and every time a cap is discharged from the cap tube 45, and applied to a. bottle said collar 74-, moves down and then up to its normal position.

When the collar 74, moves down, it swings said shaft, and

ratchet wheel forward a tooth. Every time a cap is removed from the cap tube (consequently from the carton) theratchet wheel is fed forward a tooth. The finger 109, ro tates with the ratchet wheel and operatively engages the star wheel once during ever complete revolution of the ratchet whee. The finger is arranged to partially rotate the star wheel, once during each rotation of the ratchet wheel, a distance equal to one tooth of the star wheel to move the carton holder forward (through the medium of the rack and pinion) a' distance equal to the spacing between the rows of tubes in the carton and thereby moves the carton forward to carry an empty tube thereof beyond slot 104, and to bring the next tube into alinement therewith. In the particular example illustrated, each carton tube contains twelve caps when full, hence the ratchet wheel 110, is formed with twelve teeth, and the finger 109, moves the star wheel the distance necessary to feed the car ton holder forward to bring a fresh tube over slot 104, every time twelve cap delivering operations have been completed, 5. 0., each time that twelve caps have been delivered from the head of the machine. When the carton holder'has been moved forward to its limit of forward movement to feed all caps therefrom, the feeding and counting mechanism permits. the holder to be freely pushed back by hand to its starting point, and said mechanism can then be adjusted if necessary to set the finger 109, at the proper starting point with respect to the star wheel, so as to actuate said wheel when the first twelve caps have been delivered.

The operatin parts of the machine are actuated throng the medium of the cam shaft 17, with the exception of the spinning head 81, which is constantly rotated during the operation of the machine by the endless belt from the main drive shaft. Means are provided to operate the cam shaft a single rotation on each bottle capping operation, and then bring the same to rest. Various means can be employed for,this purpose, although I prefer to employ a clutch for operatively connecting the cam shaft with the operating power, for a complete rotation of for automatically disconnecting the shaft and power on the completion of a'single rotation of the shaft. I also provide manually operated means for throwin the clutch into action.

In the example illustrated, the cam shaft 17 is mounted in the knee 3, of the frame and extends transversely therethrough and the cams hereinbefore described are fixed on the projecting ends thereof. A counter shaft 115, is mounted in the knee and projects rearwardly therefrom and is constantly driven by the main shaft 84:, through the masses medium of a sprocket chain 116, or other suitable transmission. 7

. Within the hollow knee the countershaft 1s provided with a bevel pinion 117, constantly driving a bevel gear 118, loose on the cam shaft 17. The main clutch hereinbef ore referred to throws the constantly rotatmg gear 118, into and from driving connection with the cam shaft 17, and this clutch comprises a hub 119, fixed on the cam shaft beside the loose gear 118, and provided with a longitudinally slidable clutch pm 120, on which a coiled spring 121, is constantly acting to project the pin into locking engagement with the gear 118. The gear 118 is formed with an annular series of uniformly spaced beveled edge sockets 122, to receive the end of said pin and thereby lock the gear 118 to rotate with the cam shaft. The pin is provided with a laterally projecting beveled heel 123, exposed at the exterior of the hub 119. The clutch pin is withdrawn and released by a beveled end clutch lever or trip arm 124, fixed to and projecting laterally from a rock shaft 125.

At the exterior of the knee the shaft 125, is provided with a lateral arm 126, connected by upright link 127 with a vertically-swingable treadle 128, mounted on the base of the machine.

The trip arm 1%, constantly tends to remain in and return to its normal position (Figs. 11, 12 and 13) with its beveled end engaging the heel 128, of the clutch pin and holding said pin withdrawn, against the tension of its spring, from operative en ga gement with the gear 118, so that said gear revolves freely independently of the cam shaft. When the treadle is depressed, the arm 12 1, is swung from operative engagement with the heel of the clutch pin, and said pin under the action of its spring moves into operative engagement with the gear 118, and enters one of the sockets 122, and thereby locks the cam shaft to revolve with said gear. The cam shaft makes one revolution and the heel 123 of the pin thereupon engages the beveled end of the trip arm (which in the meantime has returned to normal position) and is thereby withdrawn from operative engagement with the gear 118, and the cam shaft hence comes to rest.

In operation, the bottle, jar or other receptacle to be capped, is placed on the table against the \l-sto -or body positioner 20, with the neck of t 1e bottle between the open fingers 30, of the bottle neck holding and centering device. The treadle is thereupon depressed and released, and the cam shaft starts on its single revolution to rotate each cam 16, 79, 72, and 97, a complete revolution.

When the cam shaft starts on its rotation, the cam 16, starts to elevate the bottle table. As soon as the table starts on its operative stroke, the cam track 36, permits the fingers 30, to swing in to grasp the bottleneck and accurately aline the same with the opening 100, in housing 99.

The cam 79 also causes the cap chuck operating devices to rotate or rock the chuck from normal upright position to reversed horizontal position holding the cap reversed to receive the advancing bottle mouth.

As soon as the. chuck begins to rock on its reversing movement, the cam 72, causes of upward stroke and is holding the bottle mouth against the sealing disk in the cap to produce the desired compression thereof,

the cam- 97, causes the curling or splnning' rolls 87, to close in against the lower edge portion of the flange of the cap thus held in the bottle mouth, and curl, spin or turn said edge under the bottle shoulder to lock the cap on the bottle, see F ig. '47

It requires but an instant for the rolls 87 to spin the cap on the bottle mouth and then withdraw, and the table thereupon starts on its return movement and the hereinbefore mentioned cams cause the various other parts to all return to normal positions before the cam shaft completes its revolution and comes" to rest.

On the upward movement of the table, approximately the instant the bottle mouth engages the sealing disk in the cap, the chuck jaws 55, move outwardly away from the cap, so that the 'cap can freely movev down from the chuck with the bottle after. the completion of the spinning operation. As soon as the capped bottle starts on its return movement, the chuck begins to turn to, its normal upright movement, and as it reaches normal position, the lower end of the cap tube is uncovered and a cap drops therefrom into the chuck.

By the time the bottle table drops to normal position, the other cam-controlled Inoving parts have returned'to their normal positions, and the cam shaft has completed its revolution and come to rest.

The modification illustrated by Figs. 30 to 16, concerns the means for handling the caps in the lower end of the machine headv f: 37, and delivering the same ,to the bottle mouth, and the controlling means therefor,

the machine being otherwise the same as hereinbefore described.

In this modification, the lower cap drops NEIL Pa l-ii from the open end of the cap tube 45, into a turn-over chuck, which drops the, cap in a horizontal position, with the open side of the cap down onto a pair of slides or plates,

which then separate or move apart and deposit the cap on a pair of,movable fingers and said plates then close together over the.

cap to form the platen or abutment therefor and while the cap is being spun on the bottle bythe spinning'devices hereinbefore described.

The turnover chuck of this modification does not support the column of caps in the tube 45, and hence a vertically disposed elongated double pointed or escapement' dog is provided and operative through a slot in the edge ofthe lower portion of the tube to control the column of caps therein, and to permit the bottom cap to drop atthe proper instance into the turn-over chuck in the head below the tube. This dog has a central outwardly extending arm 129, joined by a transverse pivot to a slide rod 130, ar-

"ranged longitudinally of the head 37, and at its upper end secured to a normally elevated vertically slidable collar 131, on the exterior of the head and raised and lowered by a lever 132, connected and operated by a depending link 133, extending to a lever (not shown) controlled by a suitablecam on the cam shaft.

This dog is normally in elevated position as shown by Fig. 34:, with its upper arm 134, projected into the cap tube and holding the column of caps elevated. The dog is forced while the bottle mouth is entering the same and compressing the sealing disk therein into this position when the slide bar 130,

moves up from depressed position by a transverse pin 135, fixed in the head.

When the slide bar 130, moves down, the dog moves down with it and the lower arm 136, of the dog is directed into the lower end of the tube, to catch and uphold the column.

of caps released by the withdrawal of the upper arm of the dog, by a transverse pin 137, fixed-in the head. Then when the slide bar 130, returns on its up stroke, it moves the dog bodily upwardly and at the same time the dog rocks to permit the lower cap to drop into the capchuck and to throw the upper arm of the dog inwardly under the next cap above to uphold and elevate the column of caps as shown by Fig. 34.

In this modification, the cap turn-over chuck is composed of two separate similar members that perform the cap holding and reversing functions of the block 48 and its jaws 55, of the preferred construction.

The turn-over chuck of the modification comprises a pair of similar alined rockable or rotatable sleeves or hubs 138, mounted to rock in diametrically opposite bearings extending through the lower portion of the 

